Tabletop game with lighted features

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/424,494, filed Apr. 25, 2003, titled “TABLETOP GAME WITH LIGHTED FEATURES,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/224.051, filed Aug. 20, 2002, titled “TABLETOP GAME WITH LIGHTED PLAYING FIELD.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tabletop games and, more particularly, to tabletop sports games, such as foosball, baseball, basketball, bowling, hockey, or the like, having lighted fixtures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many arcade style tabletop games exists. Some of the more popular arcade style tabletop games simulate soccer (or football as it is known outside of the United States) and hockey. These games typically comprise a tabletop playing field that simulates the field and players of the actual game. While the below application refers to soccer simulations, a.k.a. foosball games, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize other tabletop games can be substituted for foosball.

A foosball table includes rows of representative athletes, suspended like pendulums from control rods that are mounted transversely above a playing field. Players slide and rotate the control rods to make the athletes kick a small ball, attempting to score a goal. The representative athletes are suspended over a playing field that represents a traditional soccer field. Often times, the traditional field is modified in the corners to provide a slope so the foosball does not get caught in the corner. Instead of slopes, some style foosball games have representative goalies (one or more) that can extend into the one or the other of the corners.

While generally enjoyable in its own right, these tabletop games frequently do not sustain the interest of players for an) length of time. Thus, it would be desirable to produce a tabletop game having additional features to increase interest in the tabletop game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a tabletop game is provided having a clear, translucent or semi-translucent surface. A light source is placed under the surface.

Another feature of the present invention is a tabletop game with lighted representative players. Still another feature of the present invention is a tabletop game with lighted sidewalls.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are referred to using the same numerical reference.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a perspective view of a foosball game illustrative of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a side plan view of the foosball game illustrative of the present invention;

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of a playing surface associated with one potential embodiment of the present invention; and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a cross sectional view of a tabletop game illustrative of the playing surface described in FIG. <b>3</b>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be further explained with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref> to <b>4</b>. With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref>, a representation of a soccer field is generally illustrated by playing field <b>10</b>. Playing field <b>10</b> may include indicia of a regulation soccer field including, for example, goalie box <b>12</b>, Center kickoff circle <b>14</b>, center line <b>16</b>, and the like. Playing field <b>10</b> is surrounded by sidewall <b>18</b>. Instead of regulation markings, playing field <b>11</b> may have indicia of players, whimsical designs, or the like.

Playing field <b>10</b> is made, at least in part, of a material clear, transparent, translucent, or semi-translucent to light. For simplicity, the term translucent as used in this application, is intended to encompass anything other than opaque. For example, playing field <b>10</b> could be a clear plastic, glass, colored plastic, colored glass, a frosted glass like surface, or the like. Further, playing field <b>10</b> could have portions of the playing surface translucent (including varying degrees of translucence) or opaque to form patterns and designs in the playing surface. Still further, playing field <b>10</b> could be designed to have a lighting effect that may reflect, refract, or disburse light, such as, for example, a prism. A light source, which will be explained further below, can be placed below the playing field <b>10</b>, providing a lighted surface on which foosball could be played.

Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, a side plan view of the foosball table is provided. Residing beneath playing field <b>10</b>, is at least one light source <b>20</b>. As shown, light source <b>20</b> could be a single florescent light tube extending down the center of the playing surface. Of course, the tabletop game could be designed so that the light is completely or partially enclosed by the sidewalls. However, multiple rows of florescent light tubes may be used. Further, light tubes could be arranged parallel or diagonal to the long or short dimension of the playing field <b>10</b>. Other types of lights, however, could also be possible, such as, incandescent lights, halogen lights, light strings (such as Christmas lights), lcds, leds, lasers, electro luminescent light sources, chemical light sources, light tubes, flexible light wires, or the like. Still further, one or more light sources may be mounted in sidewalls so lights tubes, such as florescent lights would not have to run the length of the playing field. In general, almost any arrangement of light can be provided depending on the lighting effect desired. Further, light source <b>20</b> could be a strobe light or other light that has an on and off feature, similar to a timer, or a string of blinking Christmas lights. Still further, it would be possible to have a dimmer to manually or automatically control the brightness of light source <b>20</b>. Finally, a timer could be used to control an on and off pattern of the lights and the dimmer.

Instead of having light source <b>20</b> reside beneath the playing field <b>10</b> as shown, it would be possible to mold a glass or plastic playing surface such that one or more tubes or conduits <b>32</b> existed in the playing field <b>10</b>, as shown in phantom in FIG. <b>3</b>. For example, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows three conduits <b>32</b> molded in playing field <b>10</b>. In this case, conduits <b>32</b> are open to each end <b>34</b> of playing field <b>10</b>, but conduits <b>11</b> could be open on one, both, or neither side. If ends <b>34</b> and conduits <b>32</b> are not open, light could be coupled, refracted, or reflected into conduits <b>32</b> through a solid end <b>34</b>. While conduits <b>32</b> are shown generally straight and parallel the longer dimension of playing field <b>10</b>, other configurations are possible. Conduits <b>32</b>, for example, do not need to be identical, could be curved, could be part curved and part straight, could be diagonal, or the like. Further, conduits <b>32</b> are shown with a cylindrical geometric shape, but other shapes are possible whether irregular, random, or geometric. Further, ridges, grooves and other imperfections in the conduits may cause desirable lighting effects (such as a prism effect).

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows optional reflective layer <b>36</b>. Instead of reflective layer <b>36</b>, a reflective surface <b>38</b> could be supplied, which is shown in phantom. Reflective layer <b>36</b> or reflective surface <b>38</b> can be any conventional light reflecting surface, such as a mirror or mirrored coating on, for example, glass. While reflective layer <b>36</b> or reflective surface <b>38</b> could be used with any light source mentioned to provided various lighting effects, it is contemplated that reflective layer <b>36</b> or reflective surface <b>38</b> would enhance the ability of light source(s) <b>20</b> residing along a sidewall to illuminate areas of playing field <b>10</b> not substantially adjacent light source(s) <b>20</b>.

It is believe using reflective layer <b>36</b> or reflective surface <b>38</b> will reduce the amount of light the light source needs to provide. By, reducing the amount of light the light source needs to provide, it is hoped that the number of lights that need to be packaged will be reduced.

A light source (not shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>) could be placed such that light from the source shines down conduits <b>32</b>. Instead of simply providing a light source, conduits <b>32</b> could be lined to enhance the light or light carrying ability. Further, emitting tubes could be placed in conduits <b>32</b> to assist in light transmission. Such light carrying tubes are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,076, titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHT TRANSMISSION,” issued on Mar. 9, 1999. Other light tubes include electro luminescent lights as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,335, titled “ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCES,” issued on Jan. 16, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,930, titled “ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE WITH A MIXTURE LAYER FILLED WITH A TRANSPARENT FILLER SUBSTANCE,” issued on Feb. 9, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,093, titled “FLEXIBLE ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHT SOURCE WITH ACTIVE PROTECTION FROM MOISTURE,” issued Jun. 4, 2002, incorporated by reference. Electro luminescent light sources are sometimes known as flexible light wire. Other light sources include chemical luminescent compositions, which are sometimes known as light sticks, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,843, titled “SUPERIOR OXALATE ESTER CHEMICAL LIGHTING SYSTEM,” issued on Feb. 2, 1982, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,608, titled “CHEMILUMINESCENT COMPOSITION,” issued on Jul. 7, 1987. All of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring back to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, residing substantially about playing surface <b>10</b> are a plurality of representative players <b>22</b>. While not shown in detail, one or more players <b>22</b> could incorporate various types of lights also. For example, flexible light wire could be used to illuminate an edge of one or more players <b>22</b>, LCD light sources could be used to illuminate a strike surface <b>22</b><i>s </i>on one or more players <b>22</b>. It is contemplated that players <b>22</b> could have some type of electro luminescent light source or chemical luminescent light source because, for manufacturing purposes, it would be difficult to supply a power source to players <b>22</b>. However, other styles of light sources can be used, such as, conventional lights, lasers, strobes, halogens, fluorescents, and the like. Power for lights could be supplied by running power through bars <b>24</b> on which players <b>22</b> reside, in this case, by batteries (not shown) contained in players <b>22</b>, or the like. Other style games may have more or less options for supplying power to players <b>22</b>. For example, a hockey style game typically has runners in playing surface <b>10</b> instead of bars <b>24</b> for players <b>22</b>. Thus, contacts could be supplied along the runners to enable power to players <b>22</b>.

Tabletop games, be they foosball games, table hockey games, football games, or baseball games, basketball games, or the like generally define playing field <b>10</b> by a sidewall <b>18</b>. As mentioned above, sidewall <b>18</b> may have lights affixed to reduce other lighting requirements. Further, sidewall <b>18</b> may also be translucent, opaque, or a combination thereof to provide reflective light from light source <b>20</b> or a separate light source (not shown). Moreover, in some embodiments of the present invention, playing field <b>10</b> may be completely opaque, but sidewall <b>18</b> may be at least partially translucent to allow light to pass.

Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, a tabletop game <b>400</b> is shown using the reflective surface <b>38</b>. As shown by the cross sectional view, game <b>400</b> has a playing surface <b>10</b> surrounded by sidewalls <b>18</b>. For convenience, one representative player <b>22</b> (the goalie) is shown on a series of cross bars <b>24</b>. Under playing surface <b>10</b> is light source <b>20</b> arranged on sidewall <b>118</b>. Sidewall <b>18</b> can be arranged as shown to have a continuous side, or sidewall <b>18</b> could be broken into separate parts, such as a playing field portion above playing field <b>10</b> and a support portion below playing field <b>10</b>. In this case, a single light source <b>20</b> is shown between playing field <b>10</b> and a reflective surface <b>38</b>, such as a mirror. Arrows <b>42</b> indicate how the single light source <b>20</b> can illuminate the entire playing field by reflecting light off of surface <b>38</b>. If playing surface <b>10</b> had a laser or coating <b>44</b> of a partially reflective material, more light would be transmitted to side <b>200</b> opposite light source <b>20</b>. Partially reflective means some light passes through layer <b>44</b> and some is reflected back to reflective surface <b>38</b>. The amount of light actually passed by the partially reflective material is a matter of design choice. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> also shows a ball drop <b>46</b>. If, as mentioned above, lights are provided on players <b>22</b>, power could be supplied to the players by wires <b>48</b> running through cross bars <b>24</b>.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiment(s) thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.